All Kids Can Create- VSA & CVS Caremark

In February I helped my student Bailey enter a national art contest: All Kids Can Create sponsored by VSA and CVS Caremark.  Bailey's art was entered online through the site Artsonia.

With over 4,700 entries we were both excited to learn that Bailey's beautiful picture "Panda" was a finalist for the state of Pennsylvania.  Her drawing was one of 4 from the state of Pennsylvania to make it to the final contest. 

In April, we were notified that Bailey's drawing was to be included in the national exhibit.  Her drawing and one other had been selected to represent our state in the exhibit at Union Station in Washington D.C. The exhibit opens on June 13, 2011.102 pieces of art total will be on display.

I am so proud of Bailey and her dedication! 

To learn more about VSA, CVS and the contest please visit the following sites:

http://www.vsarts.org/prebuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/calls/AllKidsCan/HowToApply.html

http://www.vsarts.org/prebuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/calls/AllKidsCan/MoreInfo.html

Annual Elementary Art Exhibit -Opening Reception

Well, it has been a while since I posted student projects because the Art Show has consumed my life for the past few weeks.  Well worth it though!  March 22 was our opening reception for the Annual Elementary Art Exhibit.  It was a fabulous evening!  Thank you to all of the parents, grandparents, students, teachers and community members for coming out to support our children and the arts.

I would guess that we had over 400 people come through the exhibit.  Our fundraiser for the permanent art collection went very well also.  My colleagues designed an awesome t-shirt featuring replicas of famous works (altered a bit of course).  Students and parents could pre-order the shirts at the openings.  Shirts will be delivered in school and the students will have an opportunity to hand-color their shirts with fabric markers.  I can't wait to see how each child colors his/her shirt.  All will be so different and wonderful.  I will post pictures of those once we have them of course.

With my recent posts I have really been focused on the issues concerning the state budget and furloughs.  As this continues to stress me and my colleagues and news comes out daily about our surrounding districts cutting programs and teachers I can't help but think about a comment my sister made to me.  In response to the exhibit she said, "Holy moley the turn out was huge!!! Very nice show!!! Well done!!! How in the world can schools start cutting art when you look at all that and how many proud parents came to see their children's work???"

I hope that parents, children and community members will recall the joy and pride that the students experienced when they came to show off their art work.   Even some of the students who act as though art isn't cool or it is not something they are interested in were proud to show off what they had created.  Art, music, library --all of these so called "extras" help our children become well rounded, creative, diverse individuals who in turn become outstanding, productive citizens. Please help keep the arts in our schools!  Visit the following link and tell our leaders how important art is to you and your children:

http://www.artsusa.org/get_involved/advocate.asp

The following links give additional information about how the arts help promote academics, staying in school and  thinking outside of the box.

http://www.artsusa.org/pdf/get_involved/advocacy/research/2010/artsed_involvement2010.pdf

http://www.artsusa.org/pdf/get_involved/advocacy/research/2010/artsed_cogdev2010.pdf

http://www.artsusa.org/pdf/get_involved/advocacy/research/2010/ready_innovate2010.pdf

Here are some photos of the reception and the art work.  Enjoy!

Elementary Art Show

Annual Elementary Art Show

I am pleased to announce the Third Annual Elementary Art Show-March 21-25, 2011.

The exhibit will feature art work from all three schools in our district.  For that reason, not every student will be represented in the show.  That would be almost 3,000 pieces of art that we would have to hang in one day!  Yikes, that is a lot of art work.  Although I wish that we could feature each student and each school individually; it is simply not possible.

What we (the elementary art teachers) have decided to do is to include each student in 1st grade.  At some point in each child's elementary experience he or she will have something on display.  Next year will we include all students in 1st grade and all students in 4th grade. 

Every year we fund raise to help support our elementary art collections.  This year one of the art teachers in our district has designed a t-shirt.  It features replicas of famous works of art in black printed on a white shirt.  This is an interactive project.  Students and parents may pre-order the t-shirt during the art show and I will deliver the shirts to the students in class.  When the shirts are delivered, students will have a chance to hand color the images using fabric markers.  Each shirt will be $10.00 and can only be ordered at the art show.  I will have examples of the shirts on display in my classroom next week for each child to see. 

Invitations and fliers about the art shirt will go home with students in the next week or two.  I hope that parents and students will come out and support the elementary art program. 

(Photos are from last year)